Prominently displayed on the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team unit crest (Distinctive Unit Insignia) is the unit nickname “Sky Soldiers,” a moniker given to them by Taiwanese paratroopers they trained with on Okinawa soon after they were given the Airborne designation. At the center of the insignia is an unsheathed sword positioned point to base to indicate the unit’s method of assault—from sky to ground. It is a reference to Operation Junction City, the combat-assault jump made by the Brigade in February 1967—the only parachute jump, in fact, of the entire Vietnam War, which is indicated by the “V” shaped formed by the blue area.
The lightning flashes symbolize the brigade’s combat capabilities and rapid movement into combat. Interesting, the Brigade’s numerical designation can also be found in the stylized design. The sword stands for “1,” while the objects surrounding it—two wings, two flashes, three parachute canopy sections—add up to “7.” The canopy sections by themselves represent the number 3.
As of Winter 2024, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team remains an active unit based in Vicenza, Italy. In addition to its HQ and HQ Company, it consists of 1st and 2nd Battalions, 503rd Infantry Infantry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 91st Cavalry Regiment; 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment; 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion; and the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion.
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The Distinctive Unit Insignia is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam (DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however).
For Enlisted personnel, the insignia is centered on a shoulder loop by placing it an equal distance from the outside shoulder seam to the outside edge of the shoulder-loop button. Officers (except Generals) wearing grade insignia on the shoulder loops center the DUI by placing it an equal distance between the inside edge of the grade insignia and the outside edge of the button.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e),
"Beret" and
"Garrison Cap" respectively.
Related Items
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Patch (SSI)173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Beret Flash and Oval